21 November 2007
When You Are In Their Woods, Play By Their Rules
Posted by Darrell under: Rantings Of An Outdoorsman .
A while back I spent some time in New York City. My wife demanded that I take her to “a really good italian restaurant” one evening. So, I had a taxi take us to little Italy and told him to drop us at a restaurant that the locals frequent. I was looking for the type of place that would be full of wise guys and have really really good food.
The restaurant that we were dropped off came close. It had great food and was obviously full of locals, although only a couple looked like anyone off the Sopranos and there wasn’t anyone ‘godfatherly’ sitting in a corner. Our meal was excellent. The service was great EVEN though we were obviously outsiders and this wasn’t a ‘tourist’ eating establishment. In fact, I noticed that the waiters knew most of the other patrons by name.
Anyway, there was this one big table that was obviously full of tourist. I could tell that they were tourist by their ultra trendy clothes and hairstyles, their obnoxious demeanors and the way that they were tryinghard to look like they fit in. Everything about them seemed fake and they were trying so hard to be cool that I don’t think they enjoyed the wonderful meal that was served to them or the ambiance of the locale.
When this table of tourist received their bill, the crap hit the fan. At first they discreetly called over the waiter and informed him that he’d made a mistake on their bill. It was over a thousand dollars and more than a couple hundred of that was for water and soda plus a gratuity had been added in.
Apparently the tourist mathematicians figured out that not only were they paying $200 for water and soda refills, they were also being charged about $40 more dollars just to have the water and soda served. The waiter, not so discreetly, informed them that there was “no mistake.”
The tourists refused to pay for water and soda and any gratuity for serving the same. They claimed that the waiter had asked if they wanted tap water or sparkling water (they all chose sparkling water) and had asked if they wanted additional sodas. They didn’t realize they were going to have to pay for them or that they were $5 or $6 each! They were basically screaming “but you asked if we wanted more” and the waiter kept repeating “of course I did!”
I realized that it must have been these people’s first time and likely their first meal in NYC, because in that city you pay for everything (and you pay a lot). Nothing in NYC is free or complimentary. Giving free refills or free sparkling water is beyond most New Yorker’s ability to comprehend.
Well, the tourists continued to refuse to pay for the drinks and threw a big fit (disrupting everyone else’s meals). They said that they’d “been ripped off, and that the waiters and maitre d were scam artist and crooks, etc, etc.” It made for a bit of an uncomfortable meal, albeit an entertaining one. You see, Italian restaurants of this nature are run by Italian families who don’t take kindly to being called names. These Italians became quite animated once the names started flying.
In the end the tourist did pay (I doubt they’d ever have made it out of there if they hadn’t). Although, they came back a few minutes later with a couple NYC police officers and the lunacy started all again. After several minutes of screaming, name calling, and finger pointing by all parties involved, the officers patiently explained that the restaraunt had done nothing wrong in charging them for their water and their soda refills or in not telling them how much these would cost them or in charging a gratuity due to the size of their party. It was all perfectly legal. The officers kindly suggested that, if they were concerned about cost, they might want to ask about those cost before accepting anything from anyone in the future. “It might save you a few hundred dolllars and some embarrassment next time”.
You are probably wondering what this story has to do with hunting and fishing and I’m getting ready to tell you. I was recently reminded of this story by something that I encountered during deer season here in Missouri.
Those tourist made a statement early on in their arguments that really stuck with me. They said “WHERE WE COME FROMpeople don’t charge you for water or for drink refills!!!” The waiter replied “I’m sorry sir, but THIS ISN’T WHERE YOU COME FROM. We do things differently”.
Two contrasting cultures had collided. Both parties felt they were right and had no comprehension (or understanding) of where the other party was coming from. But, the fact remains that only one of these parties was going to win the argument. The restaurant won because it was their home turf. This is how things are done in NYC. In my hometown, that restaurant would have to either give free refills or they’d be out of business in no time. But, we weren’t in my hometown, we were in theirs. In NYC you are going to pay for your water and drink refills - period!
Last week I arrived at my favorite private land hunting spot. Several hunters from out of state were already there and had been hunting hard. I noticed a small button buck hanging from one of the trees. That buck wasn’t tagged.
I found the hunters and told them that they needed to immediately tag that deer. In Missouri, deer must be immediately tagged with a transportation tag and then with the entire tag once the deer has been checked in. Serious fines and even loss of hunting privileges can result from failure to abide by these regulations.
You can probably guess what these hunters said to me. “Well, WHERE WE COME FROM you don’t have to tag your deer or check them in, etc, etc” and I replied “Well, THIS ISN’T WHERE YOU COME FROM and there isn’t a snow balls shot in hell that I’m going to lose my hunting rights because you aren’t abiding by our laws”.
They tagged the deer.
More than ever before we outdoorsmen are beginning to leave home and hunt and fish in new areas. We must be careful that as we do so that we follow the local rules. Following the rules begins with our attitude. Just because we do something (or it is legal) ‘back home’ doesn’t necessarily make it the only way or even the best way of doing things. In fact, not having to tag your deer in your home state is irrelevant when you are hunting in Missouri. The game warden doesn’t care what the laws or regulations are in your home state.
Preparing for an out of state hunting or fishing trip includes taking the time to research the local laws, regulations, and customs. Doing so now can save you lots of time, money, and embarrassment later!
When we are hunting in someone else’s woods or fishing their lakes and streams we must play by their rules.
7 Comments so far...
Kristine Shreve Says:
21 November 2007 at 9:22 am.
This is such a good post!
First I loved the New York story. I bet it was fun watching those people make jerks of themselves.
Second, you make a very good point about making sure you know what local laws and customs are in the places where you hunt or fish. Assuming that everyone does it like they do where you come from is never a good idea.
subrban bushwacker Says:
21 November 2007 at 9:41 am.
Great post, you made me miss being a barman. Those arguments were so much fun, they were the only kind I’ve never lost!
SBW
deerPhD Says:
22 November 2007 at 7:20 am.
Awesome post! Nice bridge/analogy btwn NYC and the woods (I wondered or a sec where you were going!). Great points…and Happy Thanksgiving!
Arthur Says:
24 November 2007 at 11:56 am.
Great points Darrell. It is always important to check the local game laws before hunting in a different state. To assume that all laws are the same from state to state it just silly and ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law!
Michele Says:
25 November 2007 at 6:18 am.
Wonderful post. Very well written!! There was absolutely nothing more that needed to be added, you said it all. Beautiful.
Robert Says:
26 November 2007 at 11:21 am.
Great post. I lived in NYC for 20 years and can relate to your tourist story. I can also relate to your private hunting lot story. This year I had to share my “private area” with a new hunter who just moved into the neighborhood. He was appolgetic about nosing into “my area,” though it’s not really my area. Someone else owns it and now allows both of us to hunt it. So now I share and made a new hunting friend. Any advice on how I convince him to bust the brush while I sit nice and cozy in my tree stand?
Marc Says:
2 December 2007 at 7:28 pm.
I like the NY story as well, I’m down there at least once a week and its only about 30 minute train ride for me. NYC is a different animal from anywhere else I’ve been, I grew up in a city so I’m used to paying for everything (and it sucks!). Anyway, it is very important to always pay attention to the rules of different states. This year I’m hunting NY, CT, and PA and there are very different rules in each state. In New York I don’t have to wear blaze orange when I hunt, but during some parts of bow season in CT I do have to wear blaze orange unless I’m hunting from a treestand over a certain height. Before I left for PA for the gun opener I thought I would either use a rifle or my semi-automatic shotgun which is an extension of my body. That decision was quickly made for me when I found out it is illegal to hunt with autoloading firearms in PA. Every state has their own rules and it doesn’t really matter what they are, all that matters is that you have the courtesy and respect to obey those laws and learn them before you get there.
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